Device for masking and supporting an article



y 30, 1953 G. s. MCLEAN 3,099,583

DEVICE FOR MASKING AND SUPPORTING AN ARTICLE Filed April 25, 1960 FIG.4

INVENTOR Fl 6.3 George S.McLeon Fiber Glcgs BY (ZMAL ATTORNEY Unite grates atent @fice 3,099,583 Patented July 30, 1963 3,099,583 DEVICE FOR MASKENG AND SUPPGRTING AN ARTICLE George Stanley McLean, Grange, Calif assignor to The Polymer Corporation, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 24,583 3 Claims. (Cl. 118-505) This invention relates generally to the art of coating by the fluidized bed process.

In the coating of articles of various types by the fluidized bed coating process masking of portions of the article which are not to be coated is carried out by the use of release agents and various forms of tapes and paper and the article is held for immersion in the bed by means of a weld wire.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel holding and masking device designed to be attached to the article to be coated by the use of vacuum whereby the process of holding and masking is embodied in one unit and the carrying out of the process is greatly speeded up.

The accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification illustrates the new and novel means by which the object of the present invention is realized, and in the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows in perspective the masking and holding device of the present invention associated with an article to be coated and showing the same in association with a diagrammatically illustrated apparatus of known type by means of which the fluidized bed coating process is carried out;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the holding and masking device looking at the front side thereof;

-FIG.' 4 is a view in perspective of the holding and masking device looking at the rear side which is attached to the article to be coated;

FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view of one handle with which is incorporated a finger actuated valve for controlling the application of suction and release of the same.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the numeral generally designates an apparatus for carrying out the well known fluidized bed coating process, in accordance with the showing in Patent 2,844,489 to Gemrner. Briefly, this apparatus consists of a tank or receptacle having an open top and having the lower portion thereof partitioned or divided by the horizontal porous ceramic wall or plate 12 whereby there is provided an upper chamber 14 in which is placed the coating material, here generally designated 16, and the lower chamber '18 into which air or other suitable gas is introduced under controlled pressure from a suitable source by means of the inlet coupling 20.

In carrying out the fluidized bed coating process various types of synthetic resin materials are used and such materials are used in finely divided character and the powdered material is maintained in a constant state of agitation in the chamber 14 while the article to be coated is immersed therein, the article being suitably heated whereby the coating material will fuse and coalesce over the surface of the article. This is all in accordance with standard well known practice and it is not believed that further description of the same is required for an understanding of the present invention.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a rigid plate or sheet 22 which may be of solid construction or of laminated construction and this plate consists of a phenolic resin impregnated body of glass taken substantially on the fiber. Preferably the glass fiber comprises a fabric known as No. 181 glass fabric and this is impregnated with 9-1LD phenolic resin. The impregnated sheets of the fabric or laminations are pressed and cured to form the rigid plate or sheet body of substantial thickness and this material will withstand continuous temperatures in excess of 600 F.

The laminations making up the rigid plate body, and here designated 24, when pressed together and cured can be molded into any desired configuration. For the purpose of the present invention the body 22 is in the form of a flat sheet as illustrated. On one side of the plate 22 there is secured to the surface of the plate around the edge or perimeter thereof, a gasket 25. This gasket is silicone rubber, which is sealed to the surface of the plate and being continuous around the periphery of the plate it forms an enclosed area 2 6 which, when the structure is applied to an article which is to be coated, forms with the article a vacuum chamber or a chamber from which the air is exhausted to effect the adherence of the structure to the article or piece of work.

In the central portion of the area 2 6 there is secured to the surface of the plate a second gasket which is generally designated 28 and which encloses a smaller area. This second gasket also formed of the silicone material is of the same height from the surface of the plate as the gasket 25 so that the faces of the gaskets 25 and 28 lie in a common plane, the gasket 28 being here shown as defining a square area but obviously it may be of any desired contour as its function primarily is to maintain the surface of the article to which the structure is adhered from being deformed when the pressure between the plate and the article is reduced.

The gasket .28 is also provided with openings as at 30 for the purpose about to become apparent.

In the center of the plate 22 and, therefore, in the center of the area defined by the gasket 28, the plate is provided with an opening 31 which extends entirely therethrough and this opening is provided with a suitable nipple 32 to which may be attached at the outer or front side of the plate, a suitable hose or tube leading to a vacuum pump.

On the front side of the plate, which is the side thereof opposite from the gaskets, a means may be provided for facilitating the handling of the plate and the work piece to which it is attached. Such handling means are here shown as the two hand grips 33 and 34. These hand grips may take any desired or suitable form as, for example, the hand grip 33 is shown as comprising an angle plate having the one flange portion 35 secured to the face of the plate 22 with the other flange 36 projecting forwardly therefrom and having a hand hole 37 therein. The other hand grip may, if desired, be of the same construction as the hand grip 33 but this other hand grip 34 is here shown as provided with an integral valve structure for controlling the application of vacuum to the area 26 when the device is applied to a piece of work. In the construction illustrated, the hand grip 34 is of angular form with the one angle 38 secured to the face of the plate 22 while the other angle 39 which extends forwardly from the face of the plate and which has the hand hole 40 therein, is suitably enlarged to form a valve body 41 having a pair of air passages 42 and 43 therein communicating with a chamber 44 in which there is shown a reciprocable valve member 45 having the opposite end portions or buttons 46 and 47. These buttons are arranged so that an operator while grasping the hand grip 34 may use thumb and finger for shifting the valve back and forth for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The valve body 45 is shown as having a channel 48 longitudinally therein which normally communicates with the passage 42 and which may be brought into communication with the passage 43 when the valve element is or moved to the valve on position. Additionally, the valve element 45 has a transverse passage 49 which is adapted to be in communication at one end with a passage 50 leading to the atmosphere when the valve is in the off position and in this latter position the passage 50 is in communication with the passage 43.

As will be readily apparent the passage 43 of the valve is connected by a pipe or tube 51 with the nipple 32. The passage 42 of the valve is designed to be connected by a pipe 52 with a vacuum pump or other vacuum producing means.

While a specific form of valve has here been shown and described and such valve is also more or less diagrammatic, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited in any respect to the type of valve used for controlling the application of vacuum to the area 26 or to the breaking of such vacuum during the use of the device.

As will be readily apparent, the structure illustrated is adapted to be used not only as a means for holding an article while it is being immersed in the fluidized bed, but also as a masking structure to cover the area of the workpiece or article which is not to be coated.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the holding and masking device has been shown in association with a substantially flat workpiece or article generally designated 53, which may represent a metal door body of a type used as an inner door on a portable dish Washer.

In the use of the present device the article 53 first passes through different preliminary operations as, for example, cleaning, priming and preheating. Upon the emergence of the article from the preheating oven, the operator presses the masking device to the back of the door, thus applying the surfaces of the gaskets firmly thereagainst whereupon the valve button 46 would be pressed to establish communication between the passages 42 and 43 so that a vacuum may be drawn in the area 26 which, as previously stated, forms with the applied article a closed or air-tight chamber. Accordingly the masking and handling device becomes instantaneously secured to the article whereupon the operator will be able to lift the article and immerse it in the fluidized bed 16 to effect the desired coating action. After the desired period of immersion of the article in the fluidized powder bed suflicient to cause the material to coat, the article, the latter is removed and mounted upon the post-heat conveyor :in accordance with standard practice whereupon the operator may open the valve by pressing the button end 47 to bring the passages 43, 49 and 50 into communication with one another, thereby shutting olf the vacuum line and permitting the atmospheric air to enter the area 26 to break the vacuum.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there is provided by the present invention. a novel handling and masking device, by means of which the fluidized bed coating of various types of flat articles may be rapidly efiected, thereby doing away with the present practice of using Various release agents and forms of tapes and paper for masking and devices for attachment to the article to be coated for facilitating the immersion of the article into the fluidized bed.

-I claim:

1. A device for masking and supporting an article while a coating is applied to a part thereof, said device comprising a flat, rigid body of a non-metallic fluid impervious material capable of withstanding continuous temperatures in excess of 600 F., a continuous sealing gasket secured to one surface of the body and forming an enclosed area, which area, when the gasket is applied to a surface of an article to be coated, forms with the article a vacuum chamber, the body having an opening therethrough leading into said area from the surface of the body opposite from said area, a valve means supported on the body opposite from said area, and having a finger operated means for opening and closing an air passage therein, having one end connected with said opening at the said surface of the body opposite from said area and having means at its other end for connection with an air pressure reducing means, and a pair of hand grips secured to said body adjacent to opposite side edges thereof and projecting outwardly from the said opposite surface of the body whereby an article held by vacuum to the gasket may be introduced by hand into a bed of coating substance, and said valve means being so positioned relative to one of said hand grips that it may be operated while a hand maintains its grasp on the hand grip.

2. A device according to claim 1, with a second and discontinuous gasket secured to said one surface of the body and defining a smaller area and into which smaller area said opening leads, said gaskets having surfaces directed away from the said one surface of said body and lying in a common plane, and said second gasket also engaging the said surface of the article and supporting the latter against deformation upon reduction of pressure in said vacuum chamber.

3. A device for masking and supporting an article while a coating is applied to a part thereof, said device comprising a flat, rigid body of fluid impervious heat resistant material, a sealing gasket of heat resistant material secured to one surface of the body and outlining an area of such surface and coaching with the outlined surface- \area of the body to form a recess, said body having an opening therethrough in said area, means upon the side of the body opposite from the gasket for connecting an air pressure reducing means with said opening, said recess forming a vacuum chamber when the body and sealing gasket are positioned relative to a surface of the article to be coated, with the gasket applied thereto, means upon the said side of the body for facilitating handling the same with the article held thereagainst by vacuum, the last stated means comprising hand grips secured to and projecting from the said side of the body adjacent to opposite side edges of the body, one of said hand grips embodying as an integral part of its structure, a valve body having a chamber, a pair of air passages in the valve body each opening at one end into said chamber, one of said passages being connected with the said means connected with said opening, the other passage being adapted for connection with said air pressure reducing means, and a movable valve element in said chamber having an on position in which said passages are coupled together and an off position in which said one passage is opened to the atmosphere.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 683,059 McCaslin Sept. 24, 1901 1,126,796 Levy Feb. 2, 1915 1,246,620 Levy Nov. 13, 1917 1,394,149 Cumfer et al Oct. 18, 1921 1,517,826 Cumfer et al. Dec. 2, 1924 2,170,622 Sussin Aug. 22, 1939 2,363,841 Duggan NOV. 28, 1944 2,363,842 Duggan Nov. 28, 1944 2,504,527 I-Iueber Apr. 18, 1950 2,820,312 Coontz Jan. 21, 1958 2,840,039 Darnell et al June 24, 1958 2,844,489 Gemmer July 22, 1958 2,944,586 Yanulis July 12, 1960 3,032,433 Lewis et al May 1, 1962 OTHER REFERENCES McGregor: Silicones and Their Uses, 1954, pp. 144, 145, 149-152, 16-0, 16-1, 182, 183 to 186. TP 248 S5 M3 (3.4. 

1. A DEVICE FOR MASKING AND SUPPORTING AN ARTICLE WHILE A COATING IS APPLIED TO A PART THEREOF, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A FLAT, RIGID BODY OF A NON-METALLIC FLUID IMPREVIOUS MATERIAL CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING CONTINUOUS TEMPERATURES IN EXCESS OF 600* F., A CONTINUOUS SEALING GASKET SECURED TO ONE SURFACE OF THE BODY AND FORMING AN ENCLOSED AREA, WHICH AREA, WHEN THE GASKET IS APPLIED TO A SURFACE OF AN ARTICLE TO BE COATED, FORMS WITH THE ARTICLE A VACUUM CHAMBER, THE BODY HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH LEADING INTO SAID AREA FROM THE SURFACE OF THE BODY OPPOSITE FROM SAID AREA, A VALVE MEANS SUPPORTED ON THE BODY OPPOSITE FROM SAID AREA, AND HAVING A FINGER OPERATED MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING AN AIR PASSAGE THEREIN, AHVING ONE END CONNECTED WITH SAID OPENING AT THE SAID SURFACE OF THE BODY OPPOSITE FROM SAID AREA AND HAVING MEANS AT ITS OTHER END FOR CONNECTION WITH AN AIR PRESSURE REDUCING MEANS, AND A PAIR OF HAND GRIPS SECURED TO SAID BODY ADJACENT TO OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES THEREOF AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE SAID OPPOSITE SURFACE OF THE BODY WHEREBY AN ARTICLE HELD BY VACUUM TO THE GASKET MAY BE INTRODUCED BY HAND INTO A BED OF COATING SUBSTANCE, AND SAID VALVE MEANS BEING SO POSITIONED RELATIVE TO ONE OF SAID HAND GRIPS THAT IT MAY BE OPERATED WHILE A HAND MAINTAINS ITS GRASP ON THE HAND GRIP. 